Arrangement for reducing the starting voltage of discharge tubes with a gaseous filling



Nov. 30 1926. "1,609,024

' D. LELY, JR., ET AL ARRANGEMENT FOR REDUCING THE STARTING VOLTAGE 0F DISCHARGE TUBES WITH A GASEOUS FILLING Filed Jan. 29, 1923 2 sh et -sheet, 1

Nov. 30,1926. I 1,609,024

1 D. LELY, JR., ET AL ARRANGEMENT FOR REDUCING THE STARTING VOLTAGE 0F DISCHARGE TUBES WITH A GASEOUS FILLING Filed Jan. 29, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dim La] Jn H cndrin'mippo Patented Na. 192s.

STATES PATENT ninxmninx," m, m mumnn: rxmrro, or ammo-v, mrrnntananns, assren'ons- 4 namnoozn vmmoo'rscnar 211mm omnmmnurannmxnn, or EINDK Bevan, nn'rnanrmbs.

anmenxnn'r FOR REDUCING 'rnr. s'ranrme 'von'raeiaor pr'snmer: moans WITH A GASEOUS FILLING. a, f

Application filed January 28, 1923, serial). 615,785, and in the Netherlands il'cbruary 15, 1922 This invention relates to an improved 'a'rcuit of suitable voltage, anet work of 220 rangernent forreducing the starting voltage volts for continuous current for example. A

of discharge tubes with a gaseous filling, more particularly to those tubes containing a rare gas, in which a discharge between main electrodes is initiated by an auxihary discharge between an auxiliary electrode and one of the main, electrodes. r a

By applying such an auxiliary discharge the darting. voltage of the maindischargeis reduced and the present invention has for amples of difierent connections the invention are shown;

its object to further reduca this voltage and to improve the efiiciency of the tube.

According ,to the invention an auxiliary electrode arranged opposite to one of, or to both main electrodes in a discharge tube with a gaseous filling, is connected in series with acondenser. .In parallel to this condenser a-high resistance may also be connected. The startingvoltage of the main discharge is thereby reduced vto a greater,

extent and moreover the efliciency' of the tube is-improved.

The invention may charge tube in which an auxiliary discharge is resorted to so as to initiate a main .idis charge in a rare gas or a mixture ofrare gases. The-main discharge may be of different character for instance an arc-discharge ora glow-discharge. t

In the, accompanying drawing some ex:

1 according to Fig. 1 shows a discharge tube for glow discharge, in which a condensen'is connected in series with the auxiliary electrode and Fig. 2 shows a'tungsten arc-lamp providedwith one auxiliaryelectrode with which a condenser 1s connected in series; in parallel to this condenser a high reslstance is con nected. In Fig. 1,1 is the glass bulb, containing a suitable gaseous filling such as'neon or any other rare gas or mixture of rare gases. The

main electrodes 2. and. 3 are su by the l'eading-in wires, which are used into the stems 9 and 10., 'The auxiliary electrodes 4 and 5 are likewise supported by the leadinging iiresflandare connected via the condens-Y ers 6 and 7 to the conductors 8 to which the main electrodes are I also 'connecte The. conductors 8 are connected to alightingcirbe applied to any disstabilizing resistance ll iscconnected in sef ries to the main electrodes. v r

In Fig. 2 in which a tungsten arc lamp is illustrated corresponding parts are ndicated by references similar to those used in i Fig. '1.' l 6 n the arrangement according to Fig. 2 a high resistance 12 iscorinected in parallel to the condenser 6.

The favourable effect of the arrangement according to the invention is apparently due to the charging current, occurrlng on switching on the condenser. i

The strength 'of the c urrent' of the auxiliaiy discharge 'is thereby 7temporarily" high; apparently a cloud br lions is'produced, difiusing to the point where the main discharge is to be initiated, and thusfacilitating the starting of the main discharge. In the case of a continuous current the diffusion recess of the ions is assisted by the disapgdiirance of the field iminediately'after switc ingon. It is clear that the invention is particularly applicable where a continuous current is used, as in the case of c onnecting to a network for COIltlllllOllB current the chargingcurrent of the cond'enser will always reach the same maximum value, whereasnr the case of a li htin circuit for alternating current the value o the charging-current would; depend on the moment-of switchingon, in other words on the momentary value of the voltage.

When connecting to. a lighting-system for hand, the charging-current is limited and.

on theother'hand the'condenser automatically loses its charge after being put out of r I circuit,.which is desirable in order to provide 0 when switching on afresh.

Switches 13, 14 "and 15 are inserted in for a charging-current of suflicient value.

the auxiliary-electrode cir uit for. control when purposes. Once the niain discharge is started the condensers may be disconnected from the circuit'by opening these switches.

For the same purpose it is preferable that manufacturing the condenser care should be taken that the leakage-resistance between thegcoatings does not reach too great i a value.

charge tube having discharge electrodes, an

What we claim is 1. A comblnatlon ofa gas-containing disauxiliury electrode in proximity to at least one discharge electrode and a condenser, connected in series with the gap between the said auxiliary, electrode and the correspondone'disc-harge electrode, a condenser connect-- ed in series with the gap between the said auxiliary electrode and the corresponding discharge electrode and the current supply, and a 'high ohmic resistance connected 1n parallel to said condenser.

A-eombination of a gas-containing dis- V In testimony whereof we afiix our signa tures.

DIRK LELY (JUNIOR). HENDRIK FILIPPOn 

